Aston Rowant could not build on a promising start and lost by 88 runs in their Serious Cricket Home Counties Premier League Division 2 West game at home to Cove on Saturday.

The hosts made early inroads, with Glen Carlton bowling Cove opener Nick Randall without a on the board and then a run-out reducing their opponents to 9-2.

However, former Hampshire batsman Chris Benham held the innings together with a clever and well-crafted 84 before he was eventually bowled by 17-year-old Adam Muttitt.

Wickets then fell regularly, but a solid innings of 47 from Najeeb Bashir Malik took them to 239 all out in 60 overs.

Carlton was the pick of the Rowant bowlers, claiming 4-59 from his 23 overs.

Rowant must have thought they would be able to get the runs on a good batting track and fast outfield.

But they collapsed disastrously to 67-8 showing little or no resistance against the bowling of Vinnie de Souza (4-27).

Leigh Lewis and Carlton restored some respectability, taking the score to 108-9.

Gordon Harris and Lewis showed that it was not too difficult to bat as they put on 43 for the last wicket to take Rowant to 151 all out.

Lewis finished unbeaten on 42, putting Rowant’s earlier batsmen to shame.